How employers can empower and support female employees

You’ve heard of the gender pay gap, but what about the gender mental health gap? Recent studies reveal widening discrepancies¹ between men's and women's mental health – from adolescence and beyond. When we talk about women, we are including people who were assigned female at birth or who self-identify as female, however it’s important to recognise the discrepancies in mental wellbeing can be far more extreme for those who are part of the LGBTQI+ community.²

Women are three times more likely to experience mental health issues than men.

Mental health issues are evidently experienced by all genders, however research shows that women are three times more likely to suffer from mental health issues than men and there are some specific factors that contribute to this.¹⁰ Women are grappling with higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression³ due to a complex interplay of socioeconomic disparities, societal expectations and biological differences. Employers have a crucial role to play to address this issue. This article will explore what’s driving gender mental health inequality and provide businesses with the tools they need to empower and support female employees.

Disparity in Mental Health: Unravelling the causes and consequences

The disparity in mental health between men and women is shaped by various factors. Firstly, life-stage health issues relating to women's reproductive health, for example: PCOS, endometriosis, pregnancy and baby loss, and menopause. 

• PCOS affects 10% of women and can lead to anxiety and depression.⁴ 
• Endometriosis affects 1 in 10 women and increases the risk of mental health disorders.⁵
• Miscarriage causes symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD.⁶
• Approximately 10% of pregnant women experience depression, rising to 15.6% in developing countries.⁷

For employers to support their female workforce's mental wellbeing, they must first get to the root of addressing the women's health journey as a whole.

In addition to the aforementioned factors, women's mental health is significantly impacted by socioeconomic factors and societal expectations, including the influence of social media. Socioeconomic challenges, such as austerity measures and rising inflation, disproportionately affect women, who bear approximately 86% of the burden.⁸ This financial strain often exacerbates mental health issues among women. Furthermore, women face a higher susceptibility to eating disorders⁹ and young women arethree times more likely¹⁰ to developing PTSD compared to men, contributing to the mental health disparity. According to a study by the Royal Society for Public Health¹¹, the impact of social media on women's mental well-being is significant; young women in particular report that platforms like Instagram contribute to feelings of inadequacy and anxiety about body image and appearance. The pervasive influence of social media reinforces unrealistic standards, perpetuates comparison culture, and fosters negative self-perception among women.

This escalating mental health gap can have far-reaching consequences for both employees and employers. Women may encounter increased absenteeism, reduced productivity, and elevated turnover rates. This domino effect can lead to financial losses, strained team dynamics and challenges in cultivating a healthy work environment.

Bridging the Gap: How Employers Can Empower and Support Female Employees

To tackle this issue, organisations must prioritise raising mental health awareness, equipping managers and HR teams with the necessary training, and nurturing a supportive culture. Employers should also explore offering flexible work arrangements and investing in innovative digital health solutions like Peppy.  

By implementing targeted support strategies, employers can foster a more inclusive and nurturing environment for female employees, enhancing their wellbeing and cultivating a more productive and thriving workforce.

Conclusion

Demystifying the factors that contribute to the disparity in mental health between men and women enables employers to better support and empower their female employees. By acknowledging that both genders face mental health challenges, organisations can adopt a proactive approach and pave the way for a more balanced, healthy and vibrant workplace for all.

Discover men’s and women’s health support services from AXA Health

It’s not always easy for people to discuss their health concerns at work or take the time they need to find the right support. Particularly when it comes to intimate issues specific to men’s and women’s health. 

Help your people, and their family members, take control of their wellbeing with men's and women’s health support services. Together with digital-health app Peppy, we’re offering these services to help you connect your whole workforce to expert support, education and guidance for the issues that matter to them.

About AXA Health and Peppy

Working with Peppy allows AXA Health give your employees access to clinically robust, expert, human care in traditionally unrepresented areas. Peppy practitioners are highly qualified with extensive clinical experience and all the training and qualifications required to work in the NHS. Their secure app is backed with ISO 27001 accredited data processes so your employees can access support safely at the touch of a button – whether that’s for fertility, menopause, early parenthood, men’s or women’s health.

Peppy’s services are available to companies with 500-999 employees as well as larger corporates. A minimum 24-month term contract and minimum contract value applies. App users must be 18 or over.

Footnotes

1. UK Parliament, House of Lords – Women’s health outcomes: Is there a gender gap? July 2021
2. National library of medicine: Mental health challenges of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people: An integrated literature review, 20 Jan 2021
3. Women and mental health, Mental Health Foundation, Nov 2022
4. The Office on Women's Health, Feb 2021
5. Psychiatry online (American Psychiatry Association): Endometriosis, Psychiatric Disorders May Raise the Risk of One Another, April 2020
6. Everyday Health.com: Early Pregnancy Loss May Trigger Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms, October 2020
7. Mental health and substance use, World Health Organisation, May 2023
8. The Guardian: Women bearing 86% of austerity burden, Commons figures reveal, March 2017
9. The Office on Women's Health, Sept 2022 (womenshealth.gov)
10. Men and women: statistics, Mental Health Foundation, 2017 study
11. Royal Society of Public Health: social media and young people’s mental health and wellbeing (May 2017)